The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 176

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Red Dragon Martial Emperor Episode 176

Chapter 176 — The Return (3)

Early morning.
As the rain cleared, Yi Hwan and his group resumed their journey. But their numbers had swollen by two—the Hwang Po-in soldiers they’d captured the night before.
Both men wore expressions twisted as if they’d been chewing bitter herbs.
Ju-tae let out a short laugh.
“Brighten up, you pups.”
“Where are we headed?”
“Yen Kingdom.”
“Just kill us, please! We’ve told you everything we know—we’re worthless now!”
“I’d like to, but our master says he needs you two. So wipe that look off your faces and walk like you’ve got some spirit. Unless you want me to lop off an arm first.”
……
The two had clamped their lips shut the night before, only to break under torture—the kind of agony no human could endure. They’d confessed everything.
And the revelations had been startling.
They’d been sent on a mission to assassinate the Empress by Gong Ya-un, a man the Third Prince Yi Seong-ji called his master.
Thirty men had been deployed in total.
Each positioned at their appointed place, and now none of them knew who among their comrades lived or died.
For Yi Hwan, this was an entirely unexpected prize.
‘So the Third Prince has finally thrown himself into the War of Greed? Blood will follow its nature, I suppose.’
Yi Hwan had not yet revealed his identity to them. He still wore the Face Mask, and the Hwang Po-in soldiers had no idea who he was.
How far had they traveled?
More corpses appeared. Comrades of the captured soldiers. Then, not long after, more bodies turned up—again, associates of the Hwang Po-in.
Go-mi spoke.
“Since we’re only finding bodies on one side, it seems only masters remain at the Empress’s side now.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
“Will you use them to pressure the Third Prince?”
“We’ll decide how to exploit them as we go. In any case, once we’re back, I’ll need a much closer investigation of the Third Prince—especially this old man Gong Ya-un. Pull everything you can find on him.”
“Understood.”
Then one of the Hwang Po-in soldiers cried out.
“If we return to Yen Kingdom, our families will not escape death! Please, I beg you—kill us here!”
“Kill us!”
Yi Hwan spoke to the two soldiers with calm certainty.
“Don’t worry. No one will ever know you were captured.”
……
Yi Hwan gestured with his eyes. Ju-tae then suppressed the acupoints of both Hwang Po-in men.
An hour later, the group crested the mountain pass and descended into open ground. The Female Warrior, whose inner strength was relatively weak, breathed heavily—the relentless climb over rain-slicked slopes had drained her reserves badly.
“We’ll rest a moment.”
“It’s because of me! I can walk further!”
“I’m tired. Everyone rest.”
They all settled into rest.
Cheol Mu-ok handed Yi Hwan some dried rations and spoke.
“We need to find a city or village soon. Our rations and water are running low.”
“Do that.”
They were still in Zhao Kingdom territory. The attack on the Empress had forced them off their planned route, leaving them practically lost. At least the rain had stopped.
“Share the rations with those two as well.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan chewed the dried rations while surveying the landscape.
Ahead, another mountain range stretched out. The sky above the peaks remained dark and heavy, with occasional Lightning Strike splitting the clouds.
Meanwhile, the captured Hwang Po-in soldiers were consumed with curiosity about Yi Hwan’s identity. The way Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae treated him with such deference—men not weak themselves, yet immobilized in an instant—made it clear he was no ordinary person.

I am a person who greatly dislikes the Empress.

This remark only deepened their suspicions.
[Could he be headed for the Imperial Palace? The casual way he mentions the Empress suggests he’s someone of high status.]
[That seems likely. Since he says he dislikes her, he might be connected to the Crown Prince Palace.]
[Damn it. If it gets out that we’re alive, our families are done for.]
[I have no choice but to trust him, since he promised to keep it secret.]
[Wait!]
One of the Imperial Guards suddenly widened his eyes. Another guard followed his gaze and turned his head. His eyes, too, went wide.
Figures emerged from the forest to the left, pushing through the undergrowth.

* * *

Yi Hwan and the others watched as the figures cut through the forest toward them.
One of the Imperial Guards cried out.
“The Empress’s bodyguards!”
“You’re certain?”
“I saw them do it to our comrades with my own eyes.”
The approaching figures wore different uniforms from those found as corpses. For that reason, even Hwa Ryeong had failed to recognize them as the Empress’s guards.
Yi Hwan turned to look at Hwa Ryeong.
Hwa Ryeong shrugged slightly, signaling that these were strangers to her as well.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
“What should we do?”
“Since they seem to be coming for those men, let’s watch how this plays out first.”
Yi Hwan gazed calmly at the approaching figures.
Ten in total. Each one bore an air of menace, their eyes holding that glacial coldness as if ice had been driven into their pupils.
‘How is it that villains all have eyes like that?’
The figure leading the group locked eyes with Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan did not look away, continuing to chew his dried rations. The other man’s gaze fell on the two Imperial Guards, and he drew his blade.
Shing.
The rest drew their swords in unison.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
“Oh ho?”
Ju-tae let out an amused chuckle as he drew his own sword, and Cheol Mu-ok and the others followed suit.
But Yi Hwan remained seated on the boulder, leisurely chewing his dried rations.
The man who appeared to be the leader spoke to him.
“Hand them over.”
“You mean you’ll let us live if we do?”
“Once your identities are confirmed, we’ll consider it.”
“You should have said that before drawing your swords. Then I might have believed you.”
Yi Hwan spat out the dried rations he’d been chewing and slowly rose to his feet. That was when Hwa Ryeong’s telepathic voice reached him.
[I have a feeling these are the ones called the Empress’s Shadow. Be careful.]
Yi Hwan was already thinking the same thing.
“Before asking about others’ identities, you should have revealed your own first.”
Shing.
Yi Hwan slowly drew his blade.
“In the Martial World, do you know which fighters die the fastest?”
“What?”
“Those drunk on arrogance, blind to their opponents—men like you. Isn’t that what we call them?”
A faint shimmer rippled across his sword.
“This one would need a coffin to weep over.”
Whoosh!
At the leader’s gesture, the Empress’s bodyguards spread out and formed an attack formation.
Yi Hwan advanced without hesitation and asked.
“Where is the Empress?”
“……!”
The Empress’s bodyguards flinched at Yi Hwan’s abrupt question.
“You don’t know who we are, but we know exactly who you are.”
Chirp.
Yi Hwan’s blade radiated white light.
The white radiance writhed like a living thing, coiling around the blade’s edge and growing steadily brighter.
Go-mi’s brow furrowed.
‘His body still isn’t fully recovered. Why is he pushing himself this hard?’

* * *

The moment Yi Hwan realized his opponent served as the Empress’s bodyguard, he’d already decided to kill them. From the start, he resolved to fight with full strength.
He couldn’t afford to underestimate those called the Empress’s Shadow either. If combat erupted while they were outnumbered, even one escaping to target the Female Warrior and the Hwang Po-in could slip through his fingers.
Worst case, he could afford to lose the Hwang Po-in, but never the Female Warrior. Her talents were an asset far too valuable to surrender.
The real question was whether he could kill them all. If even one managed to slip away alive, the journey back would become thoroughly troublesome.
‘To stop that, I need to overwhelm them completely. Then even if one escapes, they won’t dare think of resistance. For the Empress’s sake, if nothing else.’
Pop.
Yi Hwan vanished.
The leader standing nearest flinched and slipped backward. By a hair’s breadth, dirt erupted where he’d been standing.
Thwack!
“——!”
The leader’s eyes went wide with shock.
It wasn’t just dirt that flew. Within the rising cloud, a severed strip of sleeve fluttered.
That was when Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae charged forward, while Papa and Hwa Ryeong split to the sides and descended on those positioned at the edges.
Clang-clang-clang!
Crash!
Go-mi hurled herself swiftly to Yi Hwan’s side. The Female Warrior held her position.
One of the Hwang Po-in shouted to the Female Warrior.
“If you release us, we’ll help you fight!”
“We don’t need your help. Keep your mouth shut.”
“You don’t understand how strong these people are!”
“I may not know how strong they are, but I know exactly how strong these people are—and I mean exactly. So close your mouth and just watch.”
For all her bravado, the Female Warrior’s heart hammered with unease. Even to her eyes, the Empress’s guards looked breathtakingly strong.
“Aargh!”
The first scream tore from the left side.
As one man dodged Papa’s attack and veered sideways, Hwa Ryeong took his head clean off.
“Yes!”
The Female Warrior clenched both fists and cried out without thinking.
“They’re all dead, the bastards.”

* * *

Cheol Mu-ok’s broadsword cleaved through his opponent’s waist. At that same instant, the man’s blade grazed Cheol Mu-ok’s shoulder.
Thwack!
“Urgh!”
The opponent collapsed, bisected at the waist, and blood sprayed from Cheol Mu-ok’s shoulder.
Fire flashed in Cheol Mu-ok’s eyes.
He had a habit of growing intoxicated at the sight of blood. Though not enough to cloud his judgment entirely.
Another figure rushed at him like lightning. But Ju-tae’s blade, suddenly within striking distance, blazed with brilliance.
Thwack!
The arm of the man who’d lunged for Cheol Mu-ok was severed and went flying. Cheol Mu-ok finished what remained.
Shhk.
Ju-tae asked.
“You excited?”
“Shut it.”
“You’re excited.”
Then it happened.
Crash!
“Aaaah!”
A man went flying from Yi Hwan’s blade, blood streaming, and crashed in front of the two.
Shhk.
“You’re holding up fine.”
“Stop running your mouth and move.”
“Focus. These bastards aren’t ordinary.”
Before Ju-tae could finish speaking, Cheol Mu-ok hurled himself toward Yi Hwan’s position.
Ju-tae shifted to Go-mi’s side.
Just as she was deflecting an incoming blade with a sharp parry, Go-mi launched a counterattack. At her movements—utterly transformed from before—Ju-tae’s breath caught.
“Wow!”
Bang!
But her opponent blocked Go-mi’s riposte with his blade and retreated several paces. Go-mi rushed after him.
‘Reckless. So reckless.’
Ju-tae vanished from the spot as if dissolved into shadow, reappearing behind the man who faced Go-mi. He was about to strike without mercy at the man’s neck when—
Thwack!
“Agh!”
Go-mi’s blade thrust through from behind, nearly piercing Ju-tae, whose eyes flew wide as he stared at her in shock.
Go-mi cried out, her expression fierce.
“No time for games—focus!”
Ju-tae’s eyes bulged with astonishment.
‘Has Go-mi grown stronger, or was he the weakest of them all?’

* * *

‘I’m stronger!’
Go-mi was trembling with excitement.
In the brief clash moments before, she’d employed a technique Yi Hwan had newly taught her. She’d doubted herself, but the result was staggering.
Yet her elation was short-lived. A shockwave that rippled through her body made Go-mi grit her teeth.
‘It hurts……’
Then her eyes caught sight of figures rushing toward Yi Hwan. He was unleashing a relentless assault on another opponent and didn’t seem to notice them coming.
‘Danger!’
Go-mi was about to cry out, her eyes wide with alarm, when Yi Hwan’s blade suddenly exploded outward.
Boom!
“Ugh!”
“Argh!”
Two shrieks mixed into the thunderous crash.
The men who’d rushed at Yi Hwan staggered, blood spraying from their bodies in crimson torrents.
Without hesitation or thought, Go-mi charged at them, about to strike them down mercilessly when Yi Hwan’s hands moved first—the heads of two men flew clean from their shoulders.
“Throw me one sword.”
“Yes? Yes!”
Go-mi hurled a dead man’s blade to Yi Hwan.
Clang!
Yi Hwan caught the sword and rushed at his opponent without pause. The blade exploded again, and one man fell riddled with wounds.
Boom!
“Arrrgh!”
“Sword!”
Go-mi threw another blade.
Then it happened.
The Empress’s escort began to flee. Only two survivors remained.
Among them was the captain who’d first engaged Yi Hwan. As Cheol Mu-ok, Ju-tae, and Papa threw themselves forward in pursuit, Yi Hwan’s voice rang out.
“Don’t chase them.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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